Treatment of Anterior Vaginal Wall Prolapse Using Transvaginal Anterior Mesh With Apical Fixation: A Prospective Multicenter Study With up to 2 Years of Follow-up

Paulo César Rodrigues Palma,Marilene Vale de Castro Monteiro,Marta Alicia Ledesma,Sebastián Altuna,Juan José Luis Sardi,Cássio Luís Zanettini Riccetto 대한배뇨장애요실금학회 2018 International Neurourology Journal Vol.22 No.3

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a surgical polypropylene mesh for correction of anterior vaginal prolapse, with or without apical defects, by providing simultaneous reinforcement at the anterior and apical aspects of the vagina with a single- incision approach. Methods: This was a prospective, multicenter, single-arm study involving women with baseline stage ≥2 anterior and/or apical vaginal wall prolapse according to the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) system. The primary endpoint was defined as achievement of POP-Q stage ≤1 status. Additionally, patient-reported outcomes were assessed using the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Vaginal Symptoms (ICIQ-VS). The device under evaluation was Calistar A, which is fixed posteriorly to the sacrospinous ligaments with a novel tissue-anchoring system (TAS) and anteriorly to the obturator internus muscles. Postoperative follow-ups were scheduled at 7 days and at 6, 12, and 24 months. Results: Ninety-seven women were treated and assessed for the primary outcome. They were followed for up to 2 years (n=43), with a median of 12 months. Objective cure was achieved in 86 of the 97 patients (88.7%) (P<0.0005). The mean reduction in the ICIQ-VS scores was in the range of 70%–90% for every time point (P<0.05). No bleeding or surgical revision was reported. Mesh exposure occurred in 7 patients (7.2%), urinary retention in 5 (5.2%), de novo dyspareunia in 3 (3.1%), and urinary tract infections in 7 (7.2%). Conclusions: This midterm follow-up showed that apical and anterior vaginal reinforcement with a polypropylene implant fixed with a TAS provided good anatomical correction, with no major complications.

Impact of radiotherapy on mandibular bone: A retrospective study of digital panoramic radiographs

Luiz Felipe Palma,Ricardo Yudi Tateno,Cíntia Maria Remondes,Marcelo Marcucci,Arthur Rodriguez Gonzalez Cortes 대한영상치의학회 2020 Imaging Science in Dentistry Vol.50 No.1

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of radiotherapy on mandibular bone tissue in head and neck cancer patients through an analysis of pixel intensity and fractal dimension values on digital panoramic radiographs. Materials and Methods: Thirty patients with radiographic records from before and after 3-dimensional (3D) conformational radiotherapy were selected. A single examiner carried out digital analyses of pixel intensity values and fractal dimensions, with the areas of interest unilaterally located in the right angle medullary region of the mandible below the mandibular canal and posterior to the molar region. Results: Statistically significant decreases were observed in the mean pixel intensity (P=0.0368) and fractal dimension (P=0.0495) values after radiotherapy. Conclusion: The results suggest that 3D conformational radiotherapy for head and neck cancer negatively affected the trabecular microarchitecture and mandibular bone mass.

Inhaled Loxapine as a Rapid Treatment for Agitation in Patients with Personality Disorder: A Prospective Study on the Effects of Time

Marc Ferrer,Óscar Soto-Angona,María Soler-Artigas,Pol Ibáñez,Christian Fadeuilhe,Raúl Felipe Palma-Álvarez,Raquefet Lidai,Sebastian Vargas-Cáceres,María Ángeles Torrecilla,Anna López,Josep Antoni Ramo 대한정신약물학회 2022 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.20 No.3

Objective: Agitation in patients diagnosed with personality disorders (PD) is one of the most frequent crises in emergency departments (ED). Although many medications have been tested, their effectiveness has been small or non-significant, and no specific drugs are supported by the available evidence. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Inhaled loxapine (IL) as a therapeutic option for agitated patients with PD. Methods: A naturalistic, unicentric, prospective study was carried out. Thirty subjects diagnosed with PD and attending the ED with episodes of agitation were recruited most of whom were women diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. Subjects were treated with a single dose of IL (9.1 mg). Efficacy was assessed with the Clinical Global Impression scale, the Excited Component of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS-EC) and the Agitation-Calmness Evaluation Scale (ACES). Patients were followed 60 minutes after administration to measure IL effect and its duration. Results: IL exhibited an overall efficacy in managing mild to severe agitation, with a quick onset of effect and persistence. ‘Effect of time’, where IL efficacy is maintained over time, is more marked in higher-severity agitation. No additional treatments were needed to improve agitation during the follow-up time. Conclusion: Results suggest that IL could be a safe and effective option to manage agitation in PD.

Evaluation of Acid Digestion Procedures to Estimate Mineral Contents in Materials from Animal Trials

Palma, M.N.N.,Rocha, G.C.,Valadares Filho, S.C.,Detmann, E. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2015 Animal Bioscience Vol.28 No.11

Rigorously standardized laboratory protocols are essential for meaningful comparison of data from multiple sites. Considering that interactions of minerals with organic matrices may vary depending on the material nature, there could be peculiar demands for each material with respect to digestion procedure. Acid digestion procedures were evaluated using different nitric to perchloric acid ratios and one- or two-step digestion to estimate the concentration of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and zinc in samples of carcass, bone, excreta, concentrate, forage, and feces. Six procedures were evaluated: ratio of nitric to perchloric acid at 2:1, 3:1, and 4:1 v/v in a one- or two-step digestion. There were no direct or interaction effects (p>0.01) of nitric to perchloric acid ratio or number of digestion steps on magnesium and zinc contents. Calcium and phosphorus contents presented a significant (p<0.01) interaction between sample type and nitric to perchloric acid ratio. Digestion solution of 2:1 v/v provided greater (p<0.01) recovery of calcium and phosphorus from bone samples than 3:1 and 4:1 v/v ratio. Different acid ratios did not affect (p>0.01) calcium or phosphorus contents in carcass, excreta, concentrate, forage, and feces. Number of digestion steps did not affect mineral content (p>0.01). Estimated concentration of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and zinc in carcass, excreta, concentrated, forage, and feces samples can be performed using digestion solution of nitric to perchloric acid 4:1 v/v in a one-step digestion. However, samples of bones demand a stronger digestion solution to analyze the mineral contents, which is represented by an increased proportion of perchloric acid, being recommended a digestion solution of nitric to perchloric acid 2:1 v/v in a one-step digestion.

An Alternative, Banana Peel-based Medium Used to Investigate the Catalytic Properties of Peroxidase from a Fungus, Inonotus sp SP2, Recently Isolated in Southern Chile

L. Garcés,C. Vásquez,E. Contreras,J. Urra,M.C. Diez,L. Guerrero,C. Palma 한국생물공학회 2012 Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering Vol.17 No.5

Recycling industrial wastes is one of the major goals of bioengineering research. Agricultural wastes are often rich in natural sources of organic and inorganic compounds. The present study investigates the use of banana peel waste as a non-conventional alternative to nitrogen-enriched glucose media for a white rot fungus (WRF), Inonotus sp. SP2, recently isolated in southern Chile. WRF are known to produce biodegrading enzymes,such as peroxidases, that can have industrial and biotechnological applications. To that end, the metabolic characteristics and catalytic properties of peroxidases produced by Inonotus sp. SP2 were compared between glucose and banana peel-based growth mediums. The results establish that this strain of WRF produces high concentrations of a Mn+2-dependent peroxidase, with greater enzymatic activity in extracellular fluid and crude enzyme extracted from fungus grown in banana peel and glucose media,respectively. H2O2 has an inhibiting effect that is greater for enzymes produced in glucose media, and greater biomass can be obtained in banana-peel based media. This demonstrates that banana peel is a suitable and more cost-effective alternative to conventional glucose-based media for the production of biodegradative enzymes, such as peroxidase. Unlike other strains of WRF, the metabolic characteristics of Inonotus sp. SP2 demonstrate that it enters secondary metabolism with the production oxidative enzymes after both carbon and nitrogen sources are depleted. This suggests that with further investigation, this strain of WRF may be useful in industrial applications that require the biodegradation of nitrogen and carbon-based wastes and recalcitrant compounds.

Noisy Kondo impurities

Delattre, T.,Feuillet-Palma, C.,Herrmann, L. G.,Morfin, P.,Berroir, J.-M.,Fè,ve, G.,Plaç,ais, B.,Glattli, D. C.,Choi, M.-S.,Mora, C.,Kontos, T. NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP 2009 NATURE PHYSICS Vol.5 No.3

Evaluation of Acid Digestion Procedures to Estimate Mineral Contents in Materials from Animal Trials

M.N.N. Palma,G.C. Rocha,S.C. Valadares Filho,E. Detmann 아세아·태평양축산학회 2015 Animal Bioscience Vol.28 No.11

Rigorously standardized laboratory protocols are essential for meaningful comparison of data from multiple sites. Considering that interactions of minerals with organic matrices may vary depending on the material nature, there could be peculiar demands for each material with respect to digestion procedure. Acid digestion procedures were evaluated using different nitric to perchloric acid ratios and one- or two-step digestion to estimate the concentration of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and zinc in samples of carcass, bone, excreta, concentrate, forage, and feces. Six procedures were evaluated: ratio of nitric to perchloric acid at 2:1, 3:1, and 4:1 v/v in a one- or two-step digestion. There were no direct or interaction effects (p>0.01) of nitric to perchloric acid ratio or number of digestion steps on magnesium and zinc contents. Calcium and phosphorus contents presented a significant (p<0.01) interaction between sample type and nitric to perchloric acid ratio. Digestion solution of 2:1 v/v provided greater (p<0.01) recovery of calcium and phosphorus from bone samples than 3:1 and 4:1 v/v ratio. Different acid ratios did not affect (p>0.01) calcium or phosphorus contents in carcass, excreta, concentrate, forage, and feces. Number of digestion steps did not affect mineral content (p>0.01). Estimated concentration of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and zinc in carcass, excreta, concentrated, forage, and feces samples can be performed using digestion solution of nitric to perchloric acid 4:1 v/v in a one-step digestion. However, samples of bones demand a stronger digestion solution to analyze the mineral contents, which is represented by an increased proportion of perchloric acid, being recommended a digestion solution of nitric to perchloric acid 2:1 v/v in a one-step digestion.

In vitro Fermentation, Digestion Kinetics and Methane Production of Oilseed Press Cakes from Biodiesel Production

Olivares-Palma, S.M.,Meale, S.J.,Pereira, L.G.R.,Machado, F.S.,Carneiro, H.,Lopes, F.C.F.,Mauricio, R.M.,Chaves, Alex V. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2013 Animal Bioscience Vol.26 No.8

Following the extraction of oil for biodiesel production, oilseed press cakes are high in fat. As the dietary supplementation of fat is currently considered the most promising strategy of consistently depressing methanogenesis, it follows that oilseed press cakes may have a similar potential for $CH_4$ abatement. As such, this study aimed to characterise the nutritive value of several oilseed press cakes, glycerine and soybean meal (SBM) and to examine their effects on in vitro ruminal fermentation, digestion kinetics and $CH_4$ production. Moringa press oil seeds exhibited the greatest in sacco effective degradability (ED) of DM and CP (p<0.05). In vitro gas production (ml/g digested DM) was not affected (p = 0.70) by supplement at 48 h of incubation. In vitro DMD was increased with the supplementation of glycerine and SBM at all levels of inclusion. Moringa oilseed press cakes produced the lowest $CH_4$ (mg/g digested DM) at 6 and 12 h of incubation (p<0.05). The findings suggest that moringa oilseed press cake at 400 g/kg DM has the greatest potential of the oilseed press cakes examined in this study, to reduce $CH_4$ production, without adversely affecting nutrient degradability.

Detection and Diagnosis Solutions for Fault-Tolerant VSI

Cordeiro, Armando,Palma, Joao C.P.,Maia, Jose,Resende, Maia J. The Korean Institute of Power Electronics 2014 JOURNAL OF POWER ELECTRONICS Vol.14 No.6

This paper presents solutions for fault detection and diagnosis of two-level, three phase voltage-source inverter (VSI) topologies with IGBT devices. The proposed solutions combine redundant standby VSI structures and contactors (or relays) to improve the fault-tolerant capabilities of power electronics in applications with safety requirements. The suitable combination of these elements gives the inverter the ability to maintain energy processing in the occurrence of several failure modes, including short-circuit in IGBT devices, thus extending its reliability and availability. A survey of previously developed fault-tolerant VSI structures and several aspects of failure modes, detection and isolation mechanisms within VSI is first discussed. Hardware solutions for the protection of power semiconductors with fault detection and diagnosis mechanisms are then proposed to provide conditions to isolate and replace damaged power devices (or branches) in real time. Experimental results from a prototype are included to validate the proposed solutions.

Detection and Diagnosis Solutions for Fault-Tolerant VSI

Armando Cordeiro,Joao C. P. Palma,Jose Maia,Maia J. Resende 전력전자학회 2014 JOURNAL OF POWER ELECTRONICS Vol.14 No.6

This paper presents solutions for fault detection and diagnosis of two-level, three phase voltage-source inverter (VSI) topologies with IGBT devices. The proposed solutions combine redundant standby VSI structures and contactors (or relays) to improve the fault-tolerant capabilities of power electronics in applications with safety requirements. The suitable combination of these elements gives the inverter the ability to maintain energy processing in the occurrence of several failure modes, including short-circuit in IGBT devices, thus extending its reliability and availability. A survey of previously developed fault-tolerant VSI structures and several aspects of failure modes, detection and isolation mechanisms within VSI is first discussed. Hardware solutions for the protection of power semiconductors with fault detection and diagnosis mechanisms are then proposed to provide conditions to isolate and replace damaged power devices (or branches) in real time. Experimental results from a prototype are included to validate the proposed solutions.